News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)

Hi,

I was looking for general license study guides and came across one from New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service.  Combines Tech and General Q&A into a single document.

http://www.nyc-arecs.org/2017_Tech_General_Study_Guide.pdf

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

Another month has gone by and it is time for our October club meeting. Wednesday, 4 October, at the Sheriff's Office in Sterling.

I finally got on the air.  Worked a few stations in the CQ WW RTTY contest last weekend.  RTTY has to be my favorite mode.  Was looking for Alaska to get WAS on 80M RTTY, but once again, did not get it.

Refreshments are by Duane, K4UW.

The presentation this month should be very interesting.  Rick Miller, N1RM, will talk about "The N1RM Station," a stealthy townhouse installation that got Rick his DXCC and a few good sweepstakes finishes, and "APRS on the “Grand Tour," a description of installation and results of a motorcycle mobile APRS operation on 9600 mile motorcycle trip. Thanks for Marty, NV3H, for arranging for this presentation.

Sterling Festival is coming up on Saturday, 7 October.  SPARC runs a booth to demonstrate and interest people in amateur radio.  As part of this effort, we also set up a small portable HF station.  The plan is on our website, www.qsl.net/sterling.  If you have not seen a very small station or just want to chat for a while, please come out and join us.

Although the Virginia QSO party is still several months away, in march, this is the meeting at which we hold  our initial, short discussion of any rule changes we might want to introduce.  Suggestions should be sent to Dick, W2YE.

I think that is it.  See you at the meeting.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

Sterlingfest will be held on Saturday, 7 October 2017.  SPARC sets up a booth at Sterlingfest to demonstrate and stimulate interest amateur radio.

Our website on Sterling festival has pictures from previous years.
http://www.qsl.net/sterling/Sterlingfest/Sterlingfest.htm

As always, we dust off the plan from last year and update it a little. The draft is on the website.

We also need some volunteers to staff the booth.  I plan on being there for most of the day, but would like to take a break at some point to wander around the festival and maybe visit harbor freight.

If you are interested in volunteering to help our, please email me back.

If you have some ideas about how we could do things better, please bring those up also.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

For several years we have been following an annual plan as depicted in the attached file.  Each month we have a meeting and for most months have an additional activity.  We have a good variety of activities.  A little of everything.  Something to interest all.

We do not have an activity for December and January.

Does anyone have an idea for these months?

Would they be willing to volunteer to implement that idea?

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

Pictures of the tech class and examination session have been posted to our website.  See

http://www.qsl.net/sterling/Licensing/licensing.html

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

Mike, WB8RDN, emailed the results of the license examination session we held on Sunday afternoon.

Thanks to Mike, WB8RDN; Duane, K4UW; Monte: KV4KS; Red, N3TG, Kevin, W4KLS; John, KK4AHY; and Gordon, NQ4K; for a very successful event.

Mike also is looking for additional Volunteer Examiners (VEs). VEs need a General or Amateur Extra license.  If you are interested, please email Mike or me.

The tech class also went well.  We had 24 students sign up and 20-21 attended the class.  The room was full and everyone seemed to enjoy the presentations.  Most notability, we had a 10 year old in the class and he passed the exam. Unfortunately, one person in the class did not pass the tech exam.

Thanks to the instructors Paul, K4PDF; Bill, K4UPE; Kevin, W4KLS; Monte, KV4KS; Blair, KC9BBW; and Gordon, NQ4K; for making this possible.

We are looking for at least one new instructor.  The next open lesson is T5 Electrical principles: math for electronics; electronic principles; Ohm’s Law."  If you are interested, please email me and we can discuss.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject:     Results of September 17 Exam session
Date:     Sun, 17 Sep 2017 19:16:04 -0400

The paperwork is all done and ready to mail off to ARRL/VEC in the morning.  I had forgotten how much fun all that paperwork was, much like a root canal but necessary.

Here are the results:
Tech pass = 29
Tech fail = 2

General pass = 4
General fail = 7

Extra pass = 1
Extra fail = 0

Tech license earned: 27
General license earned:  4
Extra license earned: 1

Candidates that did not upgrade or earn new license: 3
Total candidates served by this session = 35

Thanks everyone for the help, rest up, February is coming.
Thanks/73
Mike WB8RDN

Saturday
Sept 9 2017 – this Saturday
9am til 4pm – early bird at 8:30am

Va Beach Convention Center – see attached
VE Testing Sessions – 9am til noon
Forums
FEST Bucks
Drawings for prizes
Grand Prize – Radio- give away at 3pm
Tables for sale
VENDORS VENDORS VENDORS
www.VBHAMFEST.com for up to date information
Tickets $10 at the door
See you there on Saturday!

Douglas Duggan
PIO – VBARC/VB HAMFEST
N4IRK
757-416-8782